Arizona Fall League Staffs

Tomorrow the Arizona Fall League begins its 14th season of play in the Phoenix area. Ken Oberkfell, Luis Rivera, Gary Pettis, Eddie Rodriguez, Scott Little and Ron Warner will serve as field managers for the six team league. The names of Oberkfell and Pettis stand out immediately due to their fairly long careers during the 1980's.

Oberkfell logged sixteen years in the majors (1977-1992) mainly as a second baseman. While he sported a nice on-base percentage (.351) throughout his career he wasn't much of a power hitter.

Gary Pettis was known for his glove and his speed. Over the course of an eleven year career Pettis racked up five gold gloves in centerfield and 354 stolen bases to the tune of a 77% base-stealing success rate.

Oberkfell has been managing independent and minor league ball since 1995. He's steadily worked his way up the the minor league system with the Phillies and now the Mets organization. In 2005 he reached the highest level he has ever managed, Triple A with the Norfolk Tides. Oberkfell is considered future major league managerial timber.

While the managing gig is old hat for Oberkfell, this will be Pettis' first job at the helm of a ballclub. Pettis served as hitting coach with the Nashville Sounds of the Triple A Pacific Coast League in 2005. Since his retirement from playing in 1992 Pettis has coached at the major league and minor league level for three separate organziations.

Players of note that Pettis will have playing for him are Milwaukee's Prince Fielder and Baltimore's Adam Loewen.

One of Oberkfell's top players will be Texas's Drew Meyer who will be manning shortstop for the ballclub.